FIX vs. NOC: Comfort Systems USA vs. Northrop Grumman Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC) both fall under the Capital Goods industry group, but FIX is classified in Construction & Engineering while NOC is classified in Aerospace & Defense.

Company profile comparison for Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Profile Item	FIX	NOC
Name	Comfort Systems USA Inc.	Northrop Grumman Corporation
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Industrials	Industrials
GICS Industry Group	Capital Goods	Capital Goods
GICS Industry	Construction & Engineering	Aerospace & Defense
GICS Sub-Industry	Construction & Engineering	Aerospace & Defense
Market Capitalization	35.81 billion USD	74.59 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	June 27, 1997	December 31, 1981
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FIX

NOC

GSPC

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	FIX	NOC
Total Return (1Y)	15.31%	-3.34%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	81.62%	7.23%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	62.48%	9.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FIX

NOC

GSPC

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Northrop Grumman (NOC) reports a negative beta of -0.12, suggesting inverse market sensitivity over the measurement window. That is uncommon for ordinary equities and can reflect commodity-linked or hedge-like exposure, but it can also come from statistical noise. Comfort Systems USA (FIX) has a non-negative beta of 1.68.

Risk profile metrics for Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	FIX	NOC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	60.97%	28.86%
Beta (5Y)	1.68	-0.12
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-53.28%	-37.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)	471.64K	902.47K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FIX and NOC are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	FIX	NOC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.18	-0.26
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.25	-0.37

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 58.61% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 26.07% also sits in the top quartile.

FIX

Capital Goods industry group

58.61%

FIX: 58.61%
Max: 40.55%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

26.07%

Max: 40.55%
NOC: 26.07%
Q3: 19.29%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 4.08%
Min: -17.12%

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their ROE against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 13.01% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 10.37%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

FIX

Capital Goods industry group

13.01%

Max: 27.47%
FIX: 13.01%
Q3: 12.10%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

10.37%

Max: 27.47%
Q3: 12.10%
NOC: 10.37%
Median: 6.30%
Q1: 1.40%
Min: -12.89%

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their net margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 16.47% and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 12.91% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

FIX

Capital Goods industry group

16.47%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
FIX: 16.47%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

12.91%

Max: 36.60%
Q3: 18.33%
NOC: 12.91%
Median: 11.12%
Q1: 5.14%
Min: -12.63%

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	FIX	NOC
ROE (TTM)	58.61%	26.07%
ROA (TTM)	16.88%	7.11%
Net Margin (TTM)	13.01%	10.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)	16.47%	12.91%
Gross Margin (TTM)	25.70%	20.03%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 29.52% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 2.24% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for FIX.

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 97.81% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 2.61% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for FIX.

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	FIX	NOC
Revenue Growth (YoY)	29.52%	2.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	30.03%	4.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)	97.81%	2.61%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	61.78%	-2.60%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 1.15 and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.23 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

FIX

Capital Goods industry group

1.15

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
FIX: 1.15
Min: 0.36

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

1.23

Max: 5.22
Q3: 2.95
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.43
NOC: 1.23
Min: 0.36

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 0.11 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 0.93 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

FIX

Capital Goods industry group

0.11

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
FIX: 0.11
Min: 0.00

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

0.93

Max: 2.33
Q3: 1.12
NOC: 0.93
Median: 0.60
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.00

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	FIX	NOC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.15	1.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.11	0.93
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.81	1.87

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.82% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 0.31% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, NOC the richer one.

FIX

Capital Goods industry group

0.31%

Max: 2.66%
Q3: 1.14%
FIX: 0.31%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

1.82%

Max: 2.66%
NOC: 1.82%
Q3: 1.14%
Median: 0.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 6.48% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 30.18% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

FIX

Capital Goods industry group

6.48%

Max: 67.39%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
FIX: 6.48%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

30.18%

Max: 67.39%
NOC: 30.18%
Q3: 28.02%
Median: 6.86%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	FIX	NOC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.31%	1.82%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	6.48%	30.18%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 16.57 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 21.98 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for NOC, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

FIX

Capital Goods industry group

21.98

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
FIX: 21.98
Q1: 19.47
Min: 3.03

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

16.57

Max: 59.38
Q3: 35.92
Median: 25.41
Q1: 19.47
NOC: 16.57
Min: 3.03

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 2.85 and Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 1.71 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

FIX

Capital Goods industry group

2.85

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
FIX: 2.85
Median: 2.15
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

1.71

Max: 7.54
Q3: 3.76
Median: 2.15
NOC: 1.71
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.03

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Northrop Grumman (NOC) at 3.99 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Comfort Systems USA (FIX) at 10.66 prices above its benchmark range — FIX looks rich relative to book.

FIX

Capital Goods industry group

10.66

FIX: 10.66
Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

NOC

Capital Goods industry group

3.99

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.00
NOC: 3.99
Median: 3.12
Q1: 1.81
Min: -1.08

Comfort Systems USA (FIX) vs. Northrop Grumman (NOC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Capital Goods industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Comfort Systems USA (FIX) and Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Metric	FIX	NOC
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.98	16.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.85	1.71
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	10.66	3.99
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	5.94%	4.21%